Gene Frenette

As Jaguars receiver Nate Hughes paid his respects Saturday at the funeral in Hattiesburg, Miss., for quarterback Steve McNair, he faced the same question confronting many NFL players over McNair's bizarre ending - how to remember his fellow Alcorn State alumnus?

McNair's death, being gunned down while he was sleeping by a woman with whom he had an extramarital affair, has evoked a wide range of emotions about his legacy.

Those who knew him either as a tough quarterback playing through significant injuries, or as a charitable guy in the community, will celebrate the positive impact he had on their lives. Others look at the questionable choice made that led to his demise - though nobody deserves to die for an indiscretion - and know it's impossible not to remember McNair as an example of a cautionary tale.

Hughes, a speedy, 23-year-old free agent trying to earn a roster spot with the Jaguars, sees it both ways.

"It's heartbreaking the way [McNair's death] happened," Hughes said. "People at Alcorn State who personally knew him, they feel that no matter what, he was a lovable guy that you enjoyed being around. They look past [McNair dying] because he was with another woman. I still see him as this super-cool guy that went out of his way to help other people."

That's because Hughes, a Mississippi native who attended several McNair football camps, and his entire family are Alcorn State Braves. His father, Nate Hughes, played football there. His mother, Gwen, was a track star who qualified for the Olympics. Hughes' sister, Morgandy, is currently on the track team. His grandparents are also Alcornites.

Sitting among 5,000 mourners at the funeral, Hughes' thoughts kept coming back to the quarterback who connected with him. Both as a 9-year-old, then again when McNair threw passes to Hughes in college when he served as a volunteer at McNair's camp.

Hughes, who has had many photos taken with McNair, remembers that larger-than-life quarterback who acted like "a big ol' kid" at those camps. But because life can reveal the private side of athletic heroes that isn't always flattering, Hughes also doesn't dismiss the manner in which his hero exited. And he thinks NFL players should take heed of the potential danger in their choices.

"I think it's definitely a wake-up call," Hughes said. "When [McNair] talked to the kids in camp, he told us that whatever happens to you, learn from your mistakes. I know [the manner of McNair's death] won't happen to me because I won't step out there. Or even if you have a girlfriend, you shouldn't be [unfaithful].

"It's a wake-up call for professional athletes about letting their guard down."

A quarterback who died too soon left behind a wife, four sons, great football memories, countless acts of charity, and many unanswered questions.

Nate Hughes has the right perspective. Take all of Steve McNair, the good and the flawed, and learn from it.

A lot of people run around talking about "reaping what you sow", but this should be a real life example (and reminder) of what the Bible means. It says in Galatians 6:7-8: "Beloved, be not deceived, God will not be mocked (nobody gets away with nuthin'). For whatever a man sows, this he will reap. If unto the flesh (sinful), he'll get that back. If unto the spirit (righteousness), he'll get that back."

Seedtime and harvest, sowing and reaping. It is just like farming. The small, seemingly insignificant seed (sin or act of righteousness) will come back as some form of growth - often a full blown tree!

I admit that I don't regularly read my Bible but the lessons and principles that I have learned from it in my early years have guided my life. Even to this day I consider myself a Christian.

The reason I brought up David is because David committed adultery with a married woman (Bathsheba). She became pregnant with his child. After discovering this he had her husband put on the front line (basically to die). That deserves respect right? No it doesn't but, good actually came from that relationship. If it weren't for David and Bathsheba you'd never have Jesus. So does the bad still cancel out the good?

1. The young girl actually thought that he was going to leave his wife, give her half of his money and possessions and then pay child support on four boys until they turned 18. On top of that she and McNair would live happily ever after on what was left over?

2. During the traffic stop (her DUI) he took a cab home and left her there. Which brings up another point. If the tragic murder suicide had not happened the fact that he provided alcohol to an under aged woman still would have been covered up which is why he was allowed to discreetly leave the scene.

3. The straw that broke the camel's back (literally) was when he stopped making payments on that Escalade and her apartment.

4. At some point she realized that she was just "another girl". The expensive dinners, cruises, shopping trips and carribean get aways were the tools used to get below her waistline. This girl's dream of being swept off her feet by an extremely wealthy guy who would marry her and take care of her for the rest of her life soon became a nightmare when she was told once and for all "I'm not leaving my wife."

This sad story should serve as a warning to all of us. The biggest lie that cheaters ever bought into is "nobody will find out". While I make no attempt here to judge McNair or the young woman (because none of us are sinless)this bizarre story can only be described by two words, Fatal Attraction. There is no such thing as a perfect adulterer. You will get caught or exposed. It's no surpise to some people that no matter how many of these stories come out, there are still always those few that assume that they have their bases covered and won't get caught.

While the loss of life in this manner is very tragic (I've seen excerpts from the autopsy report and she meant to kill him)the issue of infidelity cannot be ignored. The moral decline in this country is made clear when we say that the personal life doesn't matter, it's what's on the field that makes a role model. It is not right to tell young high school athletes that it's o.k. to have an affair with a woman 16 years younger along as you put up pro bowl numbers.

There is still much to this story (crime scene and phone records) that will never be made public. This was a strategic calculated and well planned act. The decision has been made that both familes (especially Mechelle and the boys) have enough to deal with as they grieve their losses and other facts and information about this case will remain private unless the families decide to share it.

I think it is also fair to point out that women initiate adulterous affairs also. For what ever reason, McNair made the choice to cross the line and get involved with a young 19 year old that served tables in a Nashville restaurant. I don't know what was it about her that hooked him.She also made the decision to get involved sexually with a married man with four sons. The sad thing is everyone (co workers) at that restaurant knew she was seeing McNair, and so did her family in Orange Park,Florida but no one cared. What I would like to know is this. If she spent time in the Jacksonville,Florida area (Orange Park) before moving to Nashville, was there any contact with current or former Jacksonville Jaguars.

Women (married or single) have thrown themselves at Pro Athletes and anyone else with what they perceive as "status". I was recently in an U.S. Airport that I will not name and I was in the vicinity of a current NFL player whom I will not name as well. The gentlemen was seated at a gate waiting to board a plane. He was working on his laptop an bothering no one. A young woman (18-25 YRS)in the area immediately recognized him, went over after adjusting her shirt and hair and sat down in the chair next to his in a manner in which he had to notice her. She wanted his attention and didn't care who was around. The NFL player(whom I will not name)got up, packed up his belongings and laptop and moved to a different part of the gate area away from her. This man is a role model!

It's not the Athlete or the Politician or the peson that these women want. It's the status they have and the fact that these men can give them the lifestyles they want NOW. If McNair was a married blue collar woker at a factory would she have been interested in him?

The lesson to be learned from this stroy is that adultery is a deadly game so don't play it. Go home to your wife and kids. End it and get out. Ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and be honest and open with your spouse so you can stand together when the other person tries to extort money from you. Yes, your spouse might leave you when they find out but maybe they won't. You still have to do what's right! The next time you go to sleep at your mistress's house (the condo was hers) you might not wake up so wise up and get out of it now.

And, lastly, in regards to there being more to the story. Some of the stuff about the crime scene just sounded odd. You may or may not know this, but I have sort of a Bodyguard. The funny thing about bodyguards is that they're often the strong silent type; they don't talk a whole lot; they don't tell 99% of what they know.